Weekend air quality index already breaking 200 for parts of Bay Area

The Camp Fire in Butte County continues to burn, bringing unhealthy air conditions to the Bay Area on Saturday that likely will last for several more days.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index hit 150 in San Francisco early Saturday, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Oakland was measured at 228, San Rafael at 211 and Fairfield at 224 — levels considered “very unhealthy.” Santa Rosa, Antioch, Vacaville and San Jose came in at “unhealthy.”

Conditions were worse near the deadliest blaze in state history. Chico’s air quality was measured at a “very unhealthy” 274.

The smoke that has blanketed the region poses health risks for everyone, regardless of medical condition. Fine particles from the wildfire are considered hazardous. People are advised to avoid physical activity, and older people, children and those who have heart or lung disease should avoid all outdoor activity.

Relief should arrive by Tuesday, when a series of storms move through the state that should lift the haze, said Robert Baruffaldi, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

“It’s definitely going to give us some much needed rain for a good chunk of the state,” he said. “It will blow the smoke out of here.”

The first drops will fall Tuesday night and could bring up to two inches of precipitation to the fire zone in Butte County, Baruffaldi said. A second storm system will move through the state on Thursday, which could bring two more inches to the fire area.

Though rain is needed where the Camp Fire continues to burn — the blaze had scorched 148,000 acres by Saturday — the moisture could trigger mud or debris flows in the burn scar areas of Paradise, Magalia, Concow and other communities.

“Any burned scar area will run the risk of having some mud and debris flows,” Baruffaldi said.

A red flag fire warning was issued for the entire western slope of the Sierra from 10 p.m. Saturday to 4 p.m. Sunday. Low humidities and gusty winds are expected in the Camp Fire area.

The heightened fire conditions, however, will not be as extreme as they were when the blaze ignited on Nov. 8, Baruffaldi said.

For now, Bay Area residents have to cope with lingering smoke, along with the cancellation of numerous events and sports games this weekend.

The bad air also impacted flights out of San Francisco. On Saturday morning, eight flights to places throughout the west coast, including San Diego, Seattle and Los Angeles, were canceled, the airport duty manager said. Dozens of flights were delayed by an average of 50 minutes.